How to Use Facebook With Friends and Family

A gentle guide to setting up Facebook, finding friends, posting updates, and using Marketplace safely.

2 min read · 6 steps · Checked March 2026

1. Step 1. Create your Facebook account

   Go to facebook.com or download the Facebook app. Tap "Create New Account." Enter your name, email or phone number, birthday, and choose a password. Facebook will send a confirmation code to verify your email or phone. Enter the code to activate your account.

2. Step 2. Set up your profile

   Tap your profile picture (or the placeholder) to add a photo. Tap "Edit Profile" to add a cover photo, your workplace, school, city, and a short bio. This helps old friends find you. Tip: keep your bio simple — "Retired nurse in Austin. Grandma of 4. Love crosswords and cooking."

3. Step 3. Find and add friends

   Tap the search bar and type a friend's name. When you find them, tap "Add Friend." They'll get a notification and can accept your request. Facebook will also suggest "People You May Know" based on your contacts, school, and workplace. You can import your email contacts to find friends faster.

4. Step 4. Post an update or photo

   On your home feed, tap "What's on your mind?" Type a message, then tap the green photo icon to add a picture. You can also add your location, tag friends, or choose who can see your post (Public, Friends, or Only Me). Tap "Post" to share it.

5. Step 5. Use Facebook Marketplace

   Tap the Marketplace icon (shop/storefront) in the menu. Browse local items for sale, or tap "Sell" to list something. Write a description, set a price, add photos, and choose your location. Buyers will message you through Facebook Messenger. Always meet in a public place for exchanges.

   Warning

   Never send money to someone you haven't met in person, and never share your banking details through Marketplace messages.

6. Step 6. Adjust your privacy settings

   Go to Settings & PrivacySettingsPrivacy. Set "Who can see your future posts?" to "Friends" (not Public). Set "Who can send you friend requests?" to "Friends of friends." Review your Timeline settings to control who can post on your wall. These settings help keep strangers from seeing your personal information.

   Quick Tip

   Review your privacy settings every few months — Facebook sometimes changes default settings during updates.